Archie the Daredevil Penguin by Andy Rash (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Archie the Daredevil Penguin by Andy Rash Jeannette Hulick Rash, Andy Archie the Daredevil Penguin; written and illus. by Andy Rash. Viking, 2015 [40p] ISBN 978-0-451-47123-9 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R 5-7 yrs Archie is the risk-taker of his penguin colony, whether climbing Mount Nosebleed, tobogganing through Craggy Pass, or, in his latest venture, attempting to fly via mechanical means to Iceberg Nine to partake in a fish fry. His flight attempts (a giant slingshot, Flap-O-Matic™ wings, and a rocket) are valiant efforts but each ultimately fails, and another penguin guesses what Archie is trying to hide: he is “afraid of the water and the strange creatures who lurk in the briny deep.” When his last flight trial lands him directly in the sea, Archie must confront his fears head on, but fortunately, the creatures he dreaded quickly and kindly surround him with helpful advice and encouragement to help him swim. While the ease with which Archie conquers his fears is more convenient than realistic, the consolation and support offered by the ocean dwellers is still satisfying. The text, presented entirely in speech bubbles, is snappy and straightforward with entertaining vocabulary (“Zounds!”) interspersed into the narrative. The humor is underscored by Rash’s high-contrast, slightly cartoonish digital illustrations in which big-beaked Archie, amusingly differentiated from the other penguins by his red safety helmet, intrepidly hurtles through the air and barrel-rolls under the sea. Kids who get a kick out of the penguins from Madagascar movies will find Archie’s stunts particularly diverting. Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois